How can you successfully integrate a robot into your cleaning team?
"Did you know? Next week, a cleaning robot is being installed at our site." What if a new member joined your team? And not just anyone! In fact, it would be a robot coming to lend a helping hand. How would you react? At BOMA, we've already seen the successful integration of several robots, and we can confirm that the key to success lies in the rest of the team and their willingness to accept the new robotic helper.
Change
For a variety of reasons, change is often unwelcome. Firstly, change can bring feelings of uncertainty and anxiety because it means entering unfamiliar territory. People naturally cling to their habits and feel safe and comfortable in familiar environments and routines. Secondly, change may require stepping out of one's comfort zone and learning new skills to adapt. This can be challenging and lead to stress and hesitation. So it's essential to consider this if you are planning to introduce a robot into your cleaning team.
Benefits of a cleaning robot
We must not forget that a robot is a complement to your cleaning team, not a replacement for a person. Using a robot means cleaning tasks can be performed differently. For example, a robot can operate independently and clean multiple times a day, whereas a cleaning machine, such as a ride-on or walk-behind floor scrubber, can typically only be used once per day. This means cleaning staff can concentrate on less repetitive and physically demanding tasks, which benefits their well-being and improves overall hygiene.
As head of the cleaning team, you have the ability to divide tasks between staff and robots. This allows everyone to work at 100% efficiency and ensures optimal results. By assigning time-consuming, repetitive tasks to the robot, the time that was once spent on manual or mechanized cleaning can now be devoted to more specialized activities. This makes it easier to meet your client's ever-increasing demands.
Social acceptance
The cleaning team receives real support with repetitive, tiresome, and physically demanding tasks. As a result, the robot (or cobot) can be accepted as a colleague in its own right. Because the robot interacts with the work environment, it also helps contribute to a friendly and collaborative workplace atmosphere.
Engagement
Before introducing a robot to your team, it's important to involve employees in the process from the start. What tasks will the robot perform? Is it difficult to work with? What will I do if a robot takes over part of my job? These are a few questions that are bound to come up. By including your cleaning staff in this whole process from the very beginning, they can stay informed and develop a sense of ownership, which greatly improves acceptance. And don't forget to train your team on how to use the robot. It's really not that complicated. However, training offers them more confidence to work alongside the robot. And last but not least, make its arrival into an event! It's fun to welcome a new colleague, especially one that's expected to play an increasingly important role in the future. What's more, you'll be among the first to use it. Now that's innovation!